Fears over 'break up' of Belgium

A woman tipped as a future prime minister of Belgium has warned its citizens
to 'get ready for the break-up' of the country following the failure of the
latest talks to form a new government.

Laurette Onkelinx has warned of the break-up of the countryPhoto: EPA

by Martin Banks in Brussels

8:00AM BST 06 Sep 2010

Laurette Onkelinx, a Socialist MP, spoke amid angry recriminations after King Albert II appointed two new negotiators to form a government straddling Dutch and French-speaking fractions.

Elio Di Rupo, the Socialist leader gave up efforts to seal a coalition pact with the biggest Flemish party, the independence-minded N-VA, seven weeks after a general election returned a deadlocked parliament.

"Let's hope it doesn't come to that because if we split, it will be the weakest who will pay the heaviest price. On the other hand, we can no longer ignore that among a large part of the Flemish population, it's their wish," Miss Onkelinx told La Deniere Heure newspaper. "So yes, we have to get ready for the break-up ofBelgium.

"When I look at the letters I receive, loads of people think it's possible."

Meanwhile, Herman Van Rompuy, President of the European Council and a former Belgian PM said he still believed there was a chance of a breakthrough in the tortuous negotiations.

He said: "In all difficult periods there is a moment when you have to put the details to one side and not keep on discussing until the last million or the last comma.

"You have to say we're taking a risk and making a leap forward in the process of state reforms and a settlement. We have to stand up to our followers, on both sides, Flemings and Francophones, and move forward. It's the only way to reach a solution."